How to Get the Most Natural-Looking Breast Augmentation If You Have a Petite Frame
For women with a petite frame, choosing breast implants involves a few particular considerations. In order to get the natural look you want, it is key to carefully select appropriate implants. This requires both an understanding of the different breast implant styles and how to choose implants that suit your overall figure.
Here are some important considerations to take into account if you have a small frame:
- Implant diameter
- Implant volume & projection
- Silicone gel-filled implants
- Under-the-muscle placement
- Your board certified plastic surgeon
1. Implant diameter
For best results, the diameter of the implant should always be just under the width of your breast base. This is true no matter what sort of look you’re going for, as variations in aesthetic can be achieved with different volumes—measured in “cc,” or cubic centimeter—or projection levels. If you are petite, your plastic surgeon will need to help you choose an appropriate diameter of implant to achieve a natural result that is customized to your anatomy.
2. Implant volume & projection
Petite women are often best served with moderate to high profile implants, or those with more projection. With more outward projection (and therefore less fullness at the edges), these implants leave a lovely cleavage without requiring a high volume to get dramatic results.
Compared with low profile implants, which are flatter and create more fullness at the edges of your breasts, moderate to high profile implants can give you a nice increase in volume without having the appearance of your chest being crowded, or the implants looking too heavy or as if they are pressed together at the center.
Moderate- or high-profile implants create a nice increase in volume without making your chest appear crowded.
You may see before and after photos that are labelled with that patient’s cc volume of implants, and think that a similar volume would work for you. But if you have a small frame, less volume is required to achieve a similar overall look to those with average or larger frames. We must carefully consider all three measures—diameter, projection, and volume—in relation to one another.
3. Silicone gel-filled implants
Silicone implants are more cohesive and form-stable than saline, and therefore they are less likely to create a visible “wrinkling” or “rippling” effect that can sometimes appear at the outer edges of the breast. This is a common consideration for patients with petite frames, who may have very little (or thin) natural breast tissues, which could allow a more flexible implant to create wrinkles that are visible on the skin.
4. Under-the-muscle placement
Most surgeons offer both subglandular placement and submuscular placement for breast implants. In a subglandular breast augmentation, the implant is inserted beneath the breast tissue and glands. A submuscular (or partially submuscular) breast augmentation places the implant below the pectoral muscle. Also called “under-the-muscle” placement, this technique is usually preferable for petite frames because more of your natural tissues cushion your implant, giving it a smoother, more natural look. This also helps to prevent obvious implant edges visible beneath your skin.
For women with thinner natural tissues, silicone gel-filled implants placed “under the muscle” help to prevent visible rippling.
5. Your board certified plastic surgeon
In addition to the details of your implants and surgery, an experienced eye is critical to evaluate how the implants will look in relation to your shoulders and other features. Luckily, you don’t have to choose breast implants on your own: a board certified plastic surgeon with many years of breast augmentation experience specializes in choosing implants that are suited for your goals and personal anatomy.
An excellent surgeon will work with you to select breast implants that meet all of the above criteria, operate with stringent safety protocols, and honor your vision for your body—never pressuring you with their own definition of beauty. Here are credentials and signs of experience to look for in your breast augmentation surgeon:
- A plastic surgeon with both board certification and years of experience
- Operates in an accredited surgery facility
- Shows you a before-and-after gallery of previous patients, with many patient results that resemble you and represent the sort of results you want
- Offers an understanding, patient-focused approach to listening to your needs during your initial consultation
If a surgeon strikes you as a bad fit, there is no harm in seeking a second opinion from another board certified plastic surgeon.
Schedule your breast augmentation consultation in Asheville, NC
If you are in the Asheville area and would like to meet with me to discuss how we can achieve your petite frame breast augmentation goals, I invite you to schedule a consultation by calling (828) 210-9333 or reaching out to my practice online. Whether you are ready to schedule your surgery or are still exploring your options, a consultation offers the perfect opportunity to learn what kinds of results you can expect from the procedure.
